President opposed to former Freedom Union politician: report

President Václav Klaus and Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg have clashed over the nomination of a new ambassador to Ukraine, according to the daily Hospodářské noviny. The president is opposing the suggestion that former Freedom Union chairman and minister, Petr Mareš, fills the spot. Mr. Mareš is currently ambassador to the Netherlands. The paper speculates that president Klaus’ opposition stems from his dislike of politicians from the now defunct Freedom Union which was formed as a breakaway from the Civic Democrats when Václav Klaus led the party. The paper reports, however, that the two men have agreed that former Civic Democrat minister Petr Gandalovič will be the new Czech ambassador in the United States.